Kuniegit

Kuniegit is played by two players alternating moves on a standard chessboard. Each player has two "Knights" and two "Warriors". Knights in this game move just like Knights in standard chess. Warriors also move exactly like Knights in standard chess. The only difference between Knights and Warriors is that Knights and Warriors have different targets of attack and different vulnerabilities.

A piece is attacked if an opposing piece eligible to attack it is a Knight's move away. For instance, a White Knight on g1 is attacked by a Black Knight on h3.

Captures are never made. A piece can move only to an empty square. The game is over when exactly one player has a piece or pieces under attack. In that case the player with a piece or pieces under attack loses. It is illegal for a player to make a move which leaves one or more of his pieces under attack unless his opponent also is left with one or more pieces under attack. If the game is not over but the player to move has no legal moves, a highly unlikely scenario, the game is a draw.

The starting position: White Warriors on c1 and d1. Black Warriors on c8 and d8. White Knights on e1 and f1. Black Knights on e8 and f8. White moves first.

After 1.Ne3 Ne6 2.We2 Nc5 3.Wf2 Na6, White can force the harassed Knight
all the way back into the corner: 4.Wd3 Nc7 5.Wc3 Na8. At first glance
White has made a lot of progress by harmoniously developing three pieces
while at the same time chasing a Black piece to a very inactive and
vulnerable square. But I have so far not found a win here for White. I
have also noted some virtues in Black's position. His Warriors are
undeveloped but well-coordinated. The wide separation of his Knights
perhaps makes them less vulnerable to double attack. Anyway, White needs
to be careful. After 6.N1c2, 6...Ng7 is a winning counterattack.
I hope the specified starting position does hold up, because I think it is
pleasing, classical, appropriate in appearance. I have experimented a
little with stabling the two camps in opposing corners but have not found
that arrangement as attractive.
Eight horses on 64 squares yields an acreage of 8 squares per horse.
Twelve horses on 100 squares would give an almost equal amount of freedom
per horse. I am wondering if twelve horse kuniegit on a 10x10 board also
might be an interesting game. If so, it would be less of a toy game, more
respectable in the eyes of a supercomputer. But eight horse kuniegit is a
good practice game for building chess skills and thus it is very
appropriate that it can be played with standard chess equipment.

I'm beginning to have doubts about the starting position. 1.Ne3 might be
too strong. Last night I got discouraged after 1...Ne6 2.We2 Nc5 3.Wf2.
If White turns out to have a quick win, I will need to find a starting
position that gives more play.